International
Why England’s Right-Back Options Are Thin Heading Into the 2026 World Cup
Tuchel has limited right-back options for 2026; Alexander-Arnold omitted, Livramento a risk concerns
Right back is one of the clearest problem positions in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad. With a summer World Cup approaching, the manager faces limited choices and few guaranteed solutions.
Trent Alexander-Arnold missing out on the 2026 World Cup would have seemed unfathomable a year or so ago. The former Liverpool man was widely regarded as one of the best right backs of his generation because of his elite passing range and crossing ability, despite lingering questions over his defensive frailties. His move to Real Madrid has altered that narrative. What was meant to be a career-defining transfer has instead been difficult: the England international has struggled for consistent starts and his defensive issues have come under an even harsher spotlight in the pressure cooker environment of the Santiago Bernabéu. Injuries certainly have not helped, and few will be surprised he did not make the final cut.
Ben White and Rico Lewis were perhaps the next-best alternatives among those who missed out, but in truth neither did enough over the course of the season to force their way into Tuchel’s plans.
Tino Livramento presents a different profile. The former Chelsea youngster brings a natural attacking instinct, regularly bursting forward, overlapping at pace and delivering dangerous crosses into the box. Those attributes make him, on paper, a strong fit for Tuchel’s preferred style. He is also no liability defensively, offering a well-rounded presence on the flank. Livramento has shown versatility too, alternating between right back and left back duties for Newcastle during Lewis Hall’s injury absence.
The obvious caveat is fitness. Livramento has suffered a range of problems this term, including knee, hamstring and thigh issues, and missed a large portion of the campaign. That record makes him a risk at a tournament where minutes must be managed carefully, and it is likely Tuchel will monitor his workload closely if he is called upon.
International
USMNT omissions: the most valuable players left out for November
Pochettino’s November USMNT squad leaves out several high-value names despite recall for some regulars.
Mauricio Pochettino has taken a youthful approach for the United States men’s national team’s November fixtures against Haiti, but the latest squad still leaves out several established and high-value names.
Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie are back in the group after being rested in the previous international break, yet the 25-man roster does not include Ricardo Pepi. The PSV Eindhoven striker has only just returned from injury, appearing in each of his club’s last three matches after a month out, and Pochettino said the omission is linked to a need for more recovery time.
Pepi is the highest-valued player missing from the squad, and Brenden Aaronson is another notable absence. The Leeds United midfielder is not sidelined by injury, but has been left out after an inconsistent spell that has seen him start only three Premier League games this season.
Johnny Cardoso and Timothy Weah, both valued at $22.3 million, also miss out. Cardoso had only recently returned from a thigh injury and featured against Barcelona on Sunday, which explains his exclusion. Weah, by contrast, has been omitted despite contributing several goal involvements recently for Marseille.
Yunus Musah will end the calendar year on 50 caps after another snub. The AC Milan midfielder has started eight Serie A matches this season, but has not done enough to win a recall.
There is no place either for Josh Sargent or Haji Wright. Sargent has been left out, while Wright has missed the entire current campaign with a muscle injury and is still awaiting his comeback.
Zavier Gozo has made only three appearances for Crystal Palace since his summer move, so his omission is no surprise. Aidan Morris, however, is a tougher call after an encouraging start at Middlesbrough. Tanner Tessmann is also absent despite starting Lyon’s last four matches, and he has not played for the USMNT since April.
International
Rashford omitted as Tuchel names England group for November break
Tuchel leaves Rashford out as England prepare for decisive November internationals.
Thomas Tuchel has confirmed his 25-man England squad for the November international break, and Marcus Rashford is not part of it.
There had been an expectation that the Manchester United winger might return to the group, but his name was missing when the squad was announced on Friday. Rashford has featured for United since the last international window, coming off the bench for one minute in the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and then starting the 2-0 loss to Atlético Madrid. He has not been involved since.
The reason is his ongoing hip issue, which has now kept him out of United’s last four matches in all competitions. With doubts still hanging over his fitness, Tuchel has opted to go in another direction for England’s crucial Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Spain.
Rashford is understood to be stepping up his recovery, but reports indicate he will not be ready to play until after the international break. That has left England looking to alternative wide options, with Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze, Barcelona’s Anthony Gordon, Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha and Chelsea’s Morgan Rogers included instead.
England’s situation in Group 3 leaves little margin for error after the loss to Spain in the previous break. Tuchel’s side are locked in a direct battle with Croatia for second place, and a draw would be enough to secure that position. There is still a route to first as well, though it depends on England overturning Spain. The Three Lions are currently four goals better off than the world champions.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion), James Trafford (Leeds United)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Marc Guéhi (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Inter Milan), Ben White (Arsenal)
Chelsea
Martínez details lasting damage from finger injury and jaw setback
Martínez says his finger injury is permanent and explains why a transfer collapsed after the World Cup.
Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has explained the scale of the injuries that have marked the last few months of his career, saying he will never fully close his right hand again after suffering a fractured ring finger during the 2026 World Cup period.
Martínez said the problem began in the Europa League final, when the finger detached and later proved to be broken in half. The former Aston Villa goalkeeper recalled being in tears when he saw the scan, fearing he would not make it to the World Cup. Rather than undergo surgery, he and Argentina’s medical staff chose a different route. He played with a plastic cast, heavy bandaging and a special glove made by adidas, with the finger put back into place and protected throughout the tournament.
The decision allowed him to start every match of Argentina’s run, though he admitted the injury limited him badly. Even on the eve of Argentina’s opener against Algeria, he said he was “diving like a zombie, with just one arm.” He also revealed he trained with a volleyball for most of the competition. Despite that, the finger still prevented a move to a Serie A club, believed to be Juventus, after the World Cup. Martínez said the transfer collapsed when a fresh X-ray showed the finger had broken again.
He eventually completed a move to Chelsea in the final hours of the summer window, but another setback followed soon after. Seven games into his Chelsea career, he collided with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite while attempting to claim a free kick. The impact left him with a broken jaw and concussion, and he has no memory of the incident.
“I preferred the jaw than the head to be honest,” Martínez said. “It was one of the most beautiful knockouts, in the UFC that would’ve been the knockout of the night. I saw birds flying around for many days honestly.”
Martínez required four screws in his jaw and is still unable to eat purées. Reflecting on the twin injuries, he said the finger remained the worse problem.
